38 Days in…Hair, More Hair and Hiking

First – The Hair

So this week I decided it was seriously time to get my hair cut and highlighted. Although most of us do this without thinking…I’m now in another country! Let’s also keep in mind that blond, white girls aren’t part of the indigenous population. I did what most newcomers to any area would do, I asked around. I got everything from something closely resembling Super Cuts (cheap but --no offense to anyone who goes there--no thanks) to something that sounded like it would cost me a month’s rent (again, no thanks). I took my new friend Kate’s (by the way, she and her husband will now be known as John & Kate – you get the reference!!) advice and went to her place. Her guy wasn’t available on the one day this week I could do it – yes, quite ironic considering I don’t have an actual job to go to everyday – so I tried my luck with the guy they gave me – Paul.

After racing to get there – they sat me down and gave me some magazines. I was REALLY hoping for the new People because I SO miss my trash fix! No such luck, I was reading Maire Claire. Paul came in cheery enough, although at closer glance, I thought he might have just rolled out of bed after a long night at the pub (he’s English) and forgot to brush his teeth…they reeked of cigarettes. Now, back in the day, no worries – we’ve all been there. However, now I’m 40!! Can I please not have to smell that at 10am??

Once I started breathing only through my mouth, the experience got a lot betterJ He seemed to know what he was doing so I was willing to keep breathing through my mouth for the remainder of my visit. After he put on the foils (for those of you who are highlighting virgins, google this), he pulled over this very high tech, funky looking drying machine that did not make a sound. Back in Jersey, I’m used to the big ball thing over my head making so much noise I usually don’t notice the headache or the fact that I’ve sweat my ass off onto the chair until the machine is shut off. This thing though, not one single vibration, quiet as a mouse. Paul came over after a bit – not really sure, I was IM’ing with Jay (my brother) and directed the hair helper (sort of like a salon assistant but I don’t think the hair helpers are learning in the process) on how to take out the foils and wash my hair (should I be nervous that she needed instruction on how to wash my hair??) The only thing I remember next is lying down on this super comfy chair and having THE BEST HEAD MASSAGE EVER! Nothing like my previous massage experience, that for sure!! Apparently , the whole head massage thing is big here – when I met with the culture consultant (next week’s blog) she made it a point to tell me which salons in town gave the best head massages. All I know is that it was so relaxing, I passed out for a bit – it had been a tough day so far!

I have to tell you about the chairs…you know how when you get shampooed at a US salon you have to sit in that chair with your head stretching way back? Not here my friends…you lay ever so comfortably in this ergonomically designed chair with your head on some sort of plank (I think it’s like a plank but I never got the chance to actually see) while the hair helper washes your hair and lifts your head for you. Did I mention the head massage?? I was headed back to this place just for that alone!

After that, Paul could have told me he was going to shave my head and I would have agreed! He didn’t though!! But he did suggest a cut that would make it healthier, blah, blah, blah, and “be much more fashionable.” Yes, that was the quote! So he put 3 different colors in it (to give it depth) cut about 4 inches off it (to give it a style), and blew it out. When all was said and done, it looked great . I know you might be tempted to say I’m biased, but even the kids noticed and like it. Benjamin actually told me I looked younger! I told him that since I got my hair cut, I was only 31 again. YEAH! Success at the hair salon!!!!!! That goes in the win column!

Next – The Threading

If you have traveled or lived in this part of the world, you might find this next part mundane. For those of you who haven’t, listen to this! Again, my friend Kate mentioned threading to me one day while we were in the cab talking about girl grooming stuff (you know waxing, hair, nails, etc.). I had vaguely heard of it before but didn’t really know the details. In a nutshell, rather than using wax to get rid of excess hair and shape your eyebrows, a very skilled technician does magic with a piece of dental floss! Okay, it’s not exactly dental floss but I opened my eyes and she had one end in her mouth and the thread between her 2 hands in this very flossing sort of way. It felt like she was using the floss like a razor on my eyebrows. Keep in mind, I had my eyes closed! I was beginning to become afraid when it didn’t seem to be stopping in a timely manner. You know, when you wax, it’s one rip and your good to go. Either she was really good at this, my eyebrows were bushes, or I was going to need to stop on the way home and get an eyebrow pencil. A few minutes later, after I was sure I still had eyebrows (you know what some of those people with the pencil eyebrows look like) I had her do my lip too. I figured since I was there and she already had the dental floss in her mouth, let’s go for it. Plus, when I asked her she exclaimed, “Oh yes!” After she finished and gave me the mirror, I was totally amazed…no redness! Again, you know after a wax, you look like you could work for Barnum and Bailey…not with threading! You could actually go out after! If you are considering this, please know that you are an active participant in this treatment – I had to pull my skin on either side to make it tight. For your lip, you use your tongue to push your lip way out while she does her dental floss trick – I had to take a break midway through…my tongue hurt!! Really….Try it, it’s not as easy as it sounds! All in all though, I’m now a big fan of the threadJ

Lastly – Hiking HK Style!

For the record, I’m not a hiker – not what I think of a hiker anyway. When I think of a hiker, I think of a crunchy (no offense to my good friend Krista!), tree-hugging, love the dirt and all the animals that live in the dirt sort of person. My definition of camping (most of you have heard this) is staying in a Holiday Inn. So, no thanks on the hiking.

I do however like to walk. I’ll walk outside in all kinds of weather – cold, you just wear more layers, warm , you wear the basic minimum not to get arrested. In all of the places we have lived, I’ve always had walking buddies (miss you all!!!!). Sidenote…Let’s be honest, an exercise buddy is just free therapist. They have to listen to you because they are trapped in some sort of fashion! That’s the beauty of a buddy!

Back to the hiking…I’ve heard a lot of talk about hiking in Hong Kong. There are hiking groups, hiking races, random people talking about hiking – I was curious about it. I called this other mom on a whim and asked if she wanted to go for a walk (secretly hoping she could be my next walking buddy). We started talking about this whole hiking thing as we were walking along. The place that we are temporarily staying in is like a big brick fortress in the sky – it’s way up on a mountain and thus there are many hiking trails around. We decided to try one.


So we looked at a map and tried to follow it. The first thing we saw was about 350 concrete steps – GOING STRAIGHT UP! No side rails, nothing of the sort, just little concrete steps (like the tiniest steps you have ever seen!). So – we started climbing. When we got to the top (what we thought was the top), we looked back – Holy Shit! All I could think of what how the #$#^&%$$ we were going to get down. I was pretty sure there was no elevator here! But, we kept going. I thought for sure we had been going for at least 40 minutes…nope, only 10! We walked on a little path for a bit and then more stairs…and more stairs…and more stairs! I was finally getting the whole hiking thing….you just climb stairs! This isn’t hiking, it’s just an outdoor stairmaster! Going down was just as interesting as my size 12 running shoes didn’t fit on the steps – I had to make sure my feet were angled sideways as not to fall down all those steps and break my ^%*&$*$ back! I'll definitely have to keep this up if I want to buy some skinny jeans!

Oh well, I’m done for this week! More to come….